Self-centering roll



Aug. 3, 1965 w. E. COPE SELF-CENTERING ROLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1965 FIE-I E v ewe INVENTOR WILLIAM E. COPE Aug. 3, 1965 w. E. COPE SELF-CENTERING ROLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1963 l/VVE/VTOR W/LL/AM E COPE United States Patent 3,198,411 SELF-CENTERING ROLL William E. Cope, Knox Township, Colurnhiana County, Ghio. (Box 335, Salem, Ohio) Filed Aug. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 3%,993

12 Claims. (Cl. 226-194) This invention relates toa self-centering roll and more particularly to such a roll for handling webs of material which must be processed with a minimum of tension, such as paper and plastics. Rolls of this general type are shown in Lorig Patent No. 2,593,158 dated April 15, 1952 and also in Lorig Patent No. 2,817,940-dated December 31, 1957. The rolls shown therein normally require considerable tension to provide proper'centering and also depend upon shaft deflection for part of the centering action.- The patented rolls have very small gaps between the rim portions which affect the centering action but these gaps are not readily adjustable. The rolls are made in many diameters and widths with the parts of one roll not being-interchangeable With-parts of rolls of other sides. This, in addition to increasing manufacturing costs, makes it necessary to stock a great number of parts.

It is therefore an object ofrthe present invention to provide a self-centering roll of the deflection type in which maximum deflection is obtained at low tensions.

Another object is to provide such a roll in which the gap between the rim portions may be readily adjusted.

A still further object is to provide such a roll in which some of the parts may be used in more than one size of roll.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a roll of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a View taken on the line IIII of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a View, similar to FIGURE 1, showing a second embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of FIGURES;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on the line V-V of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken on the line VIVI of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a segmental view showing a modification of the roll of'FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a view, similar to FIGURE 1, showing still another modification of my invention; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of FIGURE 8.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings reference numeral 2 indicates .a shaft on which is mounted a tube 4. Any suitable means may be used to position the tube 4 in centered position as shown. A pair of bushings 6 are mounted on tube 4 in spaced apart relationship. Each bushing has a spherical surface 8 between cylindrical surfaces 10. The bushings 5 are held in position on tube 4 by means of set screws 12. A hub 14 made up of two pieces 16 and 18 held together by cap screws 2% is mounted on each bushing 6. A roll body member 22 having a web 24 and rim 26 is attached to each hub piece 18 by means of cap screws 28 passing through holes in hub piece 18 and web 24, An equalizer 30 is mounted on tube 4 and held in place by means of collars 32 which in turn are heldin place on tube 4 by set screws 34. The equalizer 30 has shoulders '36 having a diameter only slightly less than the inner diameter of rim 26. Rubber covering 38 may be provided for the rim 26.

In assembling the roll, equalizer Si is placed on tube 4 and held in centered position there-on by means of collars 32. The hub pieces 18 are fastened to the body mem- I bers 22 and slid over tube 4. Bushings 6 are then positioned on tube 4 and held in the centered position. Hub v pieces 16 are then attached to the associated hub piece 13 so as to form spherical surfaces 40 around spherical surface 3. The shaft 2 can be insertedintube 4 at any time.

It will be seen that wider rollscan be made members 22 and substitutingv similar. but longer members in place of these three members. Also the. gap between the equalizer 3t) andt-he ends of rims 26 may be varied by adjusting the positions of bushings 6. Rolls of different diameters may bernade by substituting roll body members 22 and equalizer 30. of the desired diameter. The shaft 2 may be omitted or the tube 4 omitted and the parts mounted on a solid shaft. y

In operation, a webW. is passed around the rims 26 and under minimum tension. will causqithe rims 26 j FIGURES 3 to 6. In this embodiment a shaft 42 has an enlarged diameter. central portion forming shoulders 44, two smaller diameter, intermediate portions 45 forming shoulders 46, and small bearing end portions 48, A bushing Si is keyed on eachportion 45 and isheld against shoulder 45 by means of-lock washer 52 and locknut 54 threadedon shaft ,42. Each bushingj50 has a spherical portion 56. between cylinder portions 58. Ahub 60 made up of two pieces 62 and 64 held together by cap screws 66 is mounted on each bushing 50 and has a spherical inner concave surface for receiving spherical portion 56. A shim 68 is preferably placed between parts 62 and 64. The hubs 60 are keyed to bushings Silby key 69 so as to rotate therewith. Matching roll body members 70 and 70' having webs 72- and 72" and rims 74 and 74' are atits inner end. A cast iron collar 82 is secured to collar Si} by means of set screws 84. A similar web78, collar 80" and collar 82' are secured to rim 74'. A hardened steel sleeve 86 is secured to shaft 42 one against each shoulder 44. The rim 74 has a reduced diameter at its inner end providing a sup-port 88. for receiving the end of rim 74'. A gap 92 is providedbetween the adjacent ends of rims '74 and 7 4.

It will be seen that many parts of this roll can also be used in making rolls of other sizes.

The operation of this roll is essentially the same as that of FIGURE 1.

If desired a rubber sleeve 94 may be provided over the rims 74 and 74 and grooved as shown in FIGURE 7 to provide additional centering action.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show an embodiment of my invention relating to the type of roll shown in Lorig Patent No. 2,817,940. In this embodiment a shaft 96 has spaced apart bushings 98 keyed thereto and held in place axially by lock washer 1% and locknut 162 with hubs 164 keyed to the bushings 98 in essentially the same mannor as the embodiment of FIGURES 3 to 6. An end body member 106 having a rim 108 and web 110 is fastened to each of the hubs 104 by the webs 110 as in the other embodiments. A second web 112 having a collar 114 at its inner end is fastened to the inner end of each rim 108. A bronze bushing 116 is secured to each collar 114 around Patented Aug. 3., 1985 by utilizing all the parts except shaft 2,.tube 4 and rollbody.

a shaft 06. Three equally spaced pins 118 are secured to each web 112. A supporting ledge 120 is provided on the periphery on the web 112 for receiving a center shell 122 having three radial webs 124. Openings 126 are provided in the two outer webs 124 for receiving the pins 118. A peripheral groove 128 is provided at the joints between rims 108 and shell 122 for receiving a rubber seal 130. This roll operates in essentially the same way as that of Lorig Patent No. 2,817,940.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A self centering roll for conveying an object comprising a shaft, a pair of bushings secured to said shaft in spaced apart relationship and in axial alignment, each bushing having a convex spherical outer surface, a two part hub mounted on each bushing and having a concave spherical inner surface matching the spherical outer surface of the associated bushing, a pair of roll body members surrounding said shaft each having a rim and a radial web, said rims forming an object supporting surface, means connecting each of said radial webs to one part of one of said hubs, and means for limiting radial inward movement of the adjacent ends of said rims.

2. A self centering roll according to claim 1 in which the means for limiting radial inward movement of the adjacent ends of said rims is a radial equalizer mounted on said shaft at the transverse center of the roll, said equalizer having a pair of shoulders each having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameters of said rims and adapted to be contacted by said rims.

3. A self centering roll according to claim 1 in which the means for limiting radial inward movement of the adjacent ends of said rims is a radial web mounted on the inner end of each rim and adapted to contact said shaft under load.

4. A self centering roll according to claim 1 in which at least part of the outer surfaces of the rims is covered by a resilient material.

5. A self centering roll according to claim 1 including a center rim portion mounted between the said rims.

6. A self centering roll for conveying an object comprising a shaft, a pair of bushings secured to said shaft in spaced apart relationship and in axial alignment, each bushing having a convex spherical outer surface, a hub mounted on each bushing and having a concave spherical inner surface matching the spherical outer surface of the associated bushing, each hub including two radial members mounted in axial abutting relationship and means for fastening the two radial members together, a pair of roll body members surrounding said shaft each having a rim one of the inner radial members, and means for limiting radial inward movement of the adjacent ends of said rims.

7. A self centering roll according to claim 6 in which the means for limiting radial inward movement of the adjacent ends of said rims is a radial equalizer mounted on said shaft at the transverse center of the roll, said equalizer having a pair of shoulders each having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameters of said rims and adapted to be contacted by said rims.

8. A self centering roll according to claim 6 in which the means for limiting radial inward movement of the adjacent ends of said rims is a radial web mounted on the inner end of each rim and adapted to contact said shaft under load.

9. A self centering roll according to claim 6 in which at least part of the outer surfaces of the rims is covered by a resilient material.

10. A self centering roll according to claim 6 including a center rim portion mounted between the said rims.

11. A self centering roll for conveying an object comprising a shaft, a pair of bushings adjustably mounted on said shaft in spaced apart relationship, each bushing having a convex spherical outer surface, means securing each bushing to said shaft in adjusted axial position and in axial alignment, a hub mounted on each bushing and having a concave spherical inner surface matching the spherical outer surface of the associated bushing, each hub including two radial members mounted in axial abutting relationship and means detachably securing the two radial members together, a pair of roll body members surrounding said shaft each having a rim and a radial web, said rims forming an object supporting surface, means detachably connecting one of said radial webs to one of the inner radial members, means detachably connecting the other of said radial webs to the other of the inner radial members, and means for limiting radial inward movement of the adjacent ends of said rims.

12. A self centering roll according to claim 11 including means keying each. hub to the associated bushing for rotation therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNiTED STATES PATENTS 2,593,158 4/52 Lorig.

2,686,590 8/54 Sloane 198-202 2,711,352 6/55 Hasko et a1. 308-72 3,001,682 9/61 Carroll et a1. 226-192 3,005,583 10/61 Butscher 226-192 3,115,375 12/63 Haller 308-72 3,120,916 2/64 Morrow 226-192 3,149,497 9/64 Hangen 74-241 M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiner. 

1. A SELF CENTERING ROLL FOR CONVEYING AN OBJECT COMPRISING A SHRAFT, A PAIR OF BUSHINGS SECURED TO SAID SHAFT IN SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP AND IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT, EACH BUSHING HAVING A CONVEX SPHERICAL OUTER SURFACE, A TWO PART HUB MOUNTED ON EACH BUSHING AND HAVING A CONCAVE SPHERICAL INNER SURFACE MATCHING THE SPEHERICAL OUTER SURFACE OF THE ASSOCIATED BUSHING, A PAIR OF ROLL BODY MEMBERS SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT EACH HAVING A RIM AND A RADIAL 